Quick Answer:  Artificial intelligence is creating a clear divide in construction: data-driven contractors are outperforming traditional contractors in bidding accuracy, profitability, and risk control. By using AI-powered estimating, scheduling, and analytics tools, these firms can predict outcomes, reduce costly errors, and deliver more consistent project results. In contrast, contractors relying on manual processes and experience […]

Quick Answer: Recent spikes in California contractor license bond premiums (up 25–50% in some samples) are likely not caused by surety rate hikes for the most part, but a widespread decline in contractor credit health and accumulated debt. Because these bonds are credit-based, sliding scores and a 200-300% surge in financing requests act as a […]

Updated for 2026 Legislative Session California Assembly Bill 1406 (AB 1406) is pending legislation that could impact how purchaser deposits are handled in certain real estate transactions involving 10+ units. While earlier versions of the bill proposed major changes to subdivision escrow practices, the bill has since been narrowed significantly. As of now, AB 1406 […]

Beginning January 1, 2026, Oregon landscape contracting businesses are required to carry a standardized $20,000 surety bond under changes driven by Senate Bill 864. This update affects both new applicants and currently licensed landscape contractors regulated by the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board (LCB). If you perform landscape construction work in Oregon, this change directly impacts […]

It’s important to have a firm understanding of your expenses before you make the decision to take on a construction project. We work with contractors on a daily basis to find the best solutions for their bonding and insurance needs, so see many financial scenarios with varying amounts of discretionary income available to take on […]

Zillow is the leading real estate and rental marketplace, with 245 million monthly unique users in 2020 alone. Those looking to buy, rent, or sell a home are no strangers to the company’s website, but what about those of us who just want to see how far our money goes on local real estate, or […]

Let’s talk money. Some people have it, some people hoard it, and some people give it away. But one thing’s for sure—we all spend it. And with rising costs of living, inaccessible housing, higher education costs, and lower-paying post-graduate employment opportunities, today’s consumers may be stretching their dollars more than they’d like. But whose money […]

In the last year, Taylor Swift has raked in headlines—and, we suspect, a ton of money—with surprise album drops, significant pandemic relief funding, and revamped recordings of old hits. Tall, blonde, and almost unbearably earnest, Swift has been both a music industry darling and outcast, stacking Grammy nominations and awards while coming to blows with […]

Break out your cozy sweaters and dust off your pumpkin-themed decor, because fall is officially among us. If you ask us, watching scary movies and visiting haunted houses are year-round activities. But there’s nothing quite like the uneasy feeling of a fright sending shivers down your spine with a crisp chill in the air. Of […]

We all know what it’s like to take that full inventory of all the different gadgets, tools, and general items you have in your kitchen: Maybe it’s because you’re moving out, or maybe it’s just time for that annual decluttering. While old standbys like the spatula or can opener are basically considered kitchen must-haves at […]